Radicals and Operations on Radicals

Expressions

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RADICALS AND RATIONAL EXPONENTS

Definition 0.0.1 Let n be a positive integer and b a real number. A real

number a is the principal nth root of b if

1. an − b = 0 and

2. a is positive, whenever b is positive.

Example 0.0.2 Observe that 32 = 9 = (−3)2 . However, the principal

square root of 9 is 3 and not −3.

Definition 0.0.3 Let b be a real number and n a positive√integer.

If the principal nth root of b exists, then it is denoted by n b and is called a
radical . The symbol n is called the index of the radical while b is called
√
the radicand and the is a radical sign.

Note:

√
• For any integer n ≥ 1, n 0 = 0
√
• n b does not exist if b < 0 and n is even.

Definition 0.0.4 Let m and n be positive

√ integers that are relatively
n
prime, and let b be a real number. If b exists,then
m 1 1
b n = (b n )m = (bm ) n .

Equivalently,
m √
n
√
n
b n = ( b)m = ( bm ).

Definition 0.0.5 Recall that two positive integers m and n are relatively
prime if they have no common divisor greater than 1.
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Example 0.0.6 Integers 3 and 5 are relatively prime.

Example 0.0.7 Simplify.

2
• (−8) 3

Solution:
2 p
3
(−8) 3 = (−8)2
√
3
= 64
=4

or
2 √
(−8) 3 = ( 3 −8)2
= (−2)2
=4

Example 0.0.8 Simplify.

2
• (8) 3

Solution:
2 p
3
(8) 3 = (8)2
√
3
= 64
=4

or
2 √
(8) 3 = ( 8)2
3

= 22
=4
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Example 0.0.9 Simplify.

4
• (−8) 6

Solution:
4 2
(−8) 6 = (−8) 3
=4

as in the first example above.

Note that the rational exponents also satisfy the laws of integral exponents.

Recall:

1. 1st Law: am · an = am+n for positive integers m and n.

2. 2nd Law: (am )n = amn for positive integers m and n.

3. 3rd Law: (ab)m = am bm for positive integer m.

am
4. 4th Law: If a 6= 0, then an
= am−n if m > n.

am
5. 5th Law: If b 6= 0, then ( ab )m = bm
.

6. Zero Exponent: For any real number a, except 0, a0 = 1.

7. Negative Exponent: For a 6= 0, and n is any real number, a−n = 1

an
.

Example 0.0.10 Remove the negative and zero exponents and simplify.

− 3
1
• ( x− 57 )− 4
x 10
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Solution:
3
x− 5 1 3 7 1
( 7
− 10
)− 4 = (x− 5 x 10 )− 4
x
3 7 1
= (x− 5 + 10 )− 4
1 1
= (x 10 )− 4
1
= x− 40
1
= 1
x 40
1
√
= 40
x

Example 0.0.11 Remove the negative and zero exponents and simplify.

7 4
2 3 −9 1
• ( xx0yy−1zz −2 )− 7

Solution:
7 4
x 2 y 3 z −9 1 7 4 1
( 0 −1 −2 )− 7 = (x 2 y 3 +1 z −9+2 )− 7
xy z
7 7 1
= (x 2 y 3 z −7 )− 7
1 1
= x− 2 y − 3 z 1
z
= 1 1
x2 y 3

Example 0.0.12 Remove the negative and zero exponents and simplify.

1 1 1 1
• (a 4 − a 2 )(a− 4 + a− 2 )
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Solution:
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(a 4 − a 2 )(a− 4 + a− 2 ) = a 4 − 4 − a 2 − 4 + a 4 − 2 − a 2 − 2
1 1
= a0 − a 4 + a− 4 − a0
1 1
= −a 4 + a− 4
1 1
= 1 − a4
a4
1 1
1 − a4+4
= 1
a4
1
1 − a2
= 1
a4

LAWS OF RADICALS

Laws of Radicals

The following are the properties of radicals:

Theorem√0.0.13 √If m, n are positive integers and a, b are real numbers

such that a and n b exist,then
n

√ 1
1. ( n a)n = (a n )n = a
√ 1 1 1 √ √
2. n ab = (ab) n = a n · b n = n a · n b
1 1 √
na
n a
= ( ab ) n = an
p
3. b 1 = n ,
√
b
provided that b 6= 0
bn
p
m n
√ 1 1 1 1 √ √
4. a = (a n ) m = a nm = a mn = mn a, provided that mn a exists
√ n
5. n an = a n = a, provided that a > 0, or a < 0 and n is odd

Example 0.0.14 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

√
• ( 3)2
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Solution:
√
( 3)2 = 3

Example 0.0.15 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

√
• 3
216

Solution:
√
3
p
3
√
3
√
3
216 = 8(27) = 8 · 27 = (2)(3) = 6

Example 0.0.16 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

√
• √2
8

Solution:
√ r r
2 2 1 1
√ = = =
8 8 4 2

Example 0.0.17 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

p√
• 3
4

Solution:
√ 3 √ √
q q
3 3
4= 4= 2

Example 0.0.18 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

√
• 5
−32
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Solution:
√
5
p
−32 = 5 (−2)5 = −2

Example 0.0.19 Apply the laws of radicals to simplify the following.

√
• 5
32

Solution:
√
5
√
5
32 = 25 = 2

Simplification of Radicals

Example 0.0.20 Removal of factors under the radical (of index n)

that are prefect nth powers.

√
• 3
16

Solution:
√
3
√
3
√
3
√
3
√
3
16 = 23 · 2 = 23 · 2 = 2 2

Example 0.0.21 Removal of factors under the radical (of index n)

that are prefect nth powers.

√
• 50

Solution:
√ √ √ √
50 = 25 · 2 = 25 · 2
√
=5 2
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Example 0.0.22 Removal of fractions under the radical sign.

q
• 3 5
3x2

Solution:
r r r √
3
3 5 3 5 32 x 3 45x 45x
= · = =
3x2 3x2 32 x 33 x3 3x

Example 0.0.23 Reduction of the index of the radical.

√
• 4
64

Solution:
√
4
q
√ √ √ √
64 = 64 = 8= 22 · 2 = 2 2

Example 0.0.24 Assuming that all variables are positive, simplify

the following radical.
q
4 64a2 b2
• c2

Solution:
sr
2√
r r
4 64a2 b2 (23 )a2 b2 23 ab c
= = · = 2abc
c2 c2 c c c

Example 0.0.25 Assuming that all variables are positive, simplify

the following radical.

√
• a−2 + b−2
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Solution:
r r √
p 1 1 b2 + a2 b 2 + a2
a−2 + b−2 = + = =
a2 b2 a2 b2 ab

Example 0.0.26 Assuming that all variables are positive,

simplify the following radical.

•
p
4
m−2 − 2m−1 + (2m)0 , where m < 1.

Solution:
r
p 41 2
4
m−2 − 2m−1 + (2m)0 = 2
− +1
r m m
2
4 1 − 2m + m
=
r m2
2
4 (1 − m)
= 2
sr m
(1 − m)2
=
m2
r
1−m
=
r m
1−m m
= ·
r m m
m − m2
= 2
√ m
m − m2
=
m
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OPERATIONS ON RADICALS
Addition and Subtraction of Radicals
Similar Radicals

Definition 0.0.27 Same radicals are those radicals having

the same index and the same radicand.

Addition and Subtraction of Radicals: Addition or

subtraction of radicals is the process of combining similar
radicals.

Example 0.0.28 Find the sum or difference of the following

radical.
√ √
• 3
16 − 3
54

Solution:
√
3
√
3
√
3
√
3
16 − 54 = 23 · 2 − 33 · 2
√3
√
3
=2 2−3 2
√3
= (2 − 3) 2
√ 3
=− 2

Example 0.0.29 Find the sum or difference of the following

radical.
√ √ √
• 3 a+b−5 a+b+4 a+b
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Solution:
√ √ √ √ √
3 a + b − 5 a + b + 4 a + b = (3 − 5 + 4) a + b = 2 a + b

Example 0.0.30 Find the sum or difference of the following

radical.
√ √ √ √
•
3 4
40a4 − 3a 3 135a − 20a3 + 4a 25a2

Solution:
√3
√
3
√ √4
40a4 − 3a 135a − 20a3 + 4a 25a2
√ √ √ √
q
3 3
3 3 3 2 2
= 2 · 5 · a · a − 3a 3 · 5a − 2 · 5 · a · a + 4a 25a2
√3
√
3
√ √
=2a 5a − 9a 5a − 2a 5a + 4a 5a
√3
√
=(2a − 9a) 5a + (4a − 2a) 5a
√ √
3
=2a 5a − 7a 5a

Multiplication and Division of Radicals

Case 1: Multiplication and Division of Radicals with the
same index.
Use the following laws of radicals:
√ √
n
√
n
n
a · b = ab

and
√ r
n
a a
√
n
= n
.
b b
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Example 0.0.31 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √
• 3
2· 3
4

Solution:
√
3
√
3
√
3
2· 4= 8=2

Example 0.0.32 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√
3
• √
3
2
4

Solution:
√
3
r r r r √
3
2 2
3 2 3 1 3 2 3 4 4
√ = = · 2
= =
3
4 4 2 2 8 2

Example 0.0.33 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √ √ √
• ( 5 + 2 3)( 5 − 2 3)

Solution:
√ √ √ √ √ √
( 5 + 2 3)( 5 − 2 3) = ( 5)2 − (2 3)2
= 5 − 4(3)
= 5 − 12
= −7
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Example 0.0.34 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √ √
• (2 6 + 3 14) ÷ 2

Solution:
√ √
√ √ √ 2 6 3 14 √ √
(2 6 + 3 14) ÷ 2 = √ + √ = 2 3 + 3 7
2 2

Example 0.0.35 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √
•
4 4
64a3 b ÷ 4ab3

Solution:
√ √
r
4 4 464a3 b
64a3 b ÷ 4ab3 = 3
r 4ab
2
4 16a
= 2
r b r
2 2
4 16a 4 b
= 2
·
r b b2
2 2
4 16a b
= 4
p√ b
16a2 b2
=
√ b
4ab
=
√b
2 ab
=
b
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Case 2: Multiplication and Division of Radicals with

different indices.
- Must be converted first to radicals with the same indices using
the LCD of the rational exponents before multiplying or dividing
the radicals.

Example 0.0.36 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √
• 3
5· 3

Solution:

√
3
√ 1 1
5· 3 = 53 · 32
2 3
= 56 · 36
1
= (52 33 ) 6
√6
= 675

Example 0.0.37 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√
4
• √12
3
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Solution:

√
4 1
12 12 4
√ = 1
3 32
1
12 4
= 2
r34
4 12
=
r9
4 4
=
r3
4 4 33
= ·
p 3 33
4
27(4)
= √ 4
√ 34
4
108
=
3

Example 0.0.38 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √
•
p
2x · 3
3y ÷ 4
4x3 y
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Solution:
√ p p 1 1 1
2x · 3 3y ÷ 4 4x3 y = (2x) 2 (3y) 3 ÷ (4x3 y) 4
6 4 3
= (2x) 12 (3y) 12 ÷ (4x3 y) 12
p p p
= 12 (2x)6 · 12 (3y)4 ÷ 12 (4x3 y)3
√
12
p p
= 26 x6 · 12 34 y 4 ÷ 12 43 x9 y 3
p
12
26 x6 · 34 y 4
= p 12
26 x9 y 3
s
26 34 x6 y 4
= 12 6 9 3
2xy
r r r
4 4 9
12 3 y 12 3 y 12 x
= 3
= ·
rx p x3 x9
4 9 12
34 x 9 y
12 3 x y
= =
x12 x

Example 0.0.39 Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

√ √ √
•
3 6
ab · a2 ÷ 2 a7 b 3

Solution:
√ √
3
√
6 1 1 1
ab · a2 ÷ 2 a7 b3 = (ab) 2 · (a2 ) 3 ÷ 2(a7 b3 ) 6
3 2 1
= (ab) 6 · (a2 ) 6 ÷ 2(a7 b3 ) 6
√6
√
6
√6
= a3 b3 · a4 ÷ 2 a7 b3
√ 6
a7 b3
= √ 6
2 a7 b3
1
=
2